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Global 5G subscriptions are forecast to experience robust sustained growth, reaching an estimated 6.4 billion by the end of 2031 to account for approximately two-thirds of all mobile subscriptions worldwide. According to Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report (June 2026), the transition to next-generation connectivity is accelerating globally, marked by the addition of 162 million new 5G subscriptions in the first quarter of 2026 alone, bringing the current global total to 3.1 billion.

The Rise of 5G Standalone (SA) and Network Slicing

The telecommunications landscape is shifting aggressively toward advanced 5G architectures:

5G SA Growth: Subscriptions on 5G Standalone networks are projected to hit 3.9 billion by 2031, representing 60% of total 5G connections. Currently, over 90 communications service providers (CSPs) globally have launched 5G SA, out of the 390 CSPs offering commercial 5G.

Network Slicing Commercialization: The deployment of 5G SA is driving the commercialization of network slicing, which allows operators to guarantee specific quality of service (QoS) levels by isolating network resources. Commercial network slicing offerings surged from 65 in November 2025 to 84 by June 2026.

Regional 5G Adoption Variations

Ericsson anticipates that 5G penetration will surpass 50% in 8 out of 10 global regions by 2031, though the pace of adoption varies significantly:

Region5G Share (2025)5G Share Projection (2031)

Western Europe54%95%

North America79%92%

GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)53%88%

Northeast Asia60%87%

India, Nepal, and Bhutan35%81%

Latin America14%68%

Central and Eastern Europe14%67%

Southeast Asia and Oceania14%56%

Note: Despite this growth, Ericsson highlights that approximately 50% of the global population outside of China remains outside 5G coverage areas. This is expected to improve to 85% by 2031, compared to 4G population coverage which currently sits at 90% and will exceed 95% by 2031.

Mobile Data Traffic and the Impact of AI

Mobile data traffic continues its exponential trajectory. Ericsson forecasts that pure mobile network data traffic will multiply by 2.2 times between 2025 and 2031. When factoring in Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), total network traffic will multiply by 2.5 times. By the end of the forecast period, 5G will carry 85% of all global mobile data traffic.

A critical shift in network dynamics is the rapid acceleration of Uplink (UL) traffic compared to Downlink (DL) traffic:

In a recent analysis of 55 global CSPs, 43 reported faster growth in uplink traffic than downlink, driven primarily by smartphone collaboration tools, user-generated content, and cloud storage.

The AI Catalyst: Ericsson’s simulations indicate that the widespread adoption of AI applications (such as AI companions, AI/AR glasses, and AI-enhanced cloud gaming) will fundamentally alter data traffic composition. Because AI use cases require real-time interaction and continuous video/data generation, they heavily burden the uplink.

Growth Scenarios: In a "medium-adoption" AI scenario, global uplink traffic is expected to triple by 2031 compared to 2025 levels. In a "high-adoption" scenario, uplink traffic could surge by 5x over the same period.